Alexander Pichushkin is a Russian serial killer from Moscow. In 1992 with 18 years, he began with his friend and classmate Mikhail Odiitschuk to plan the so-called chessboard murders. After his classmate Mikhail refused to kill their first victim, Alexander lured him into a park, got him drunk and killed him. About his first murder Pichushkin said later: "The first murder is like to be in love the first time - an unforgettable experience."

Pichushkins goal was to kill as many people as the number of squares of a chessboard - 64. Therefore he is also called The Chessboard Killer. At the 15th of June 2006, he got arrested. Eighteen months later he was sentenced by the court to life imprisonment, the first 15 years in solitary confinement.